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Jacob Zuma announces his resignation as South Africa's president

President Jacob Zuma,
75, has heeded the call by the ANC’s top decision-making structure, the NEC, by
publicly announcing this evening at the Union Buildings in Pretoria that he will
resign as the state leader.

“I do take seriously
and am grateful to the ANC for ensuring a better life for all. I was also
elected in terms of section 86 of constitution and from that moment pledged my
commitment to the constitution. It has been a great learning experiencing, the
performance of which can never be done without learning," he said.

“None of us can claim
the building of a new society and marshaling of former liberation movement…that
it all happens in a straight line. It has detours and human errors and boulders
strewn along the path.”

“I understand full
that wile I serve at the pleasure of my party the ANC…the door through which I
officially came is through thr national assembly, without which no political
party can impose its electorate on the state. As we fight our own battles in
the corridors of political power, serving our very interests and serving our
oppressors of yesterday who joyfully celebrate as we lynch one another, we forget
the citizens for which we create a better life.”

"I am not above
reproach," Zuma said, adding that in his political responsibilities he was
not the epitome of perfection and that he respected the prefix of the
constitution. Zuma also said that he did not take up the role of president to
enjoy the benefits of the office or the perks.

“Make no mistake no
leader should seek an easy way out, simply because they could not see life
without the perks that come with the the office,” he added.

Zuma’s announcement follows that which was made by
the party’s secretary general, Ace Magashule, yesterday at the organisation’s
headquarters, Luthuli House in Johannesburg, at a press briefing, that the NEC
took the decision to recall Zuma.

Magashule said the
resolution taken by the NEC was in accordance with the ANC’s “rule 12.2.21.2 of
the party’s constitution, which accords the NEC the authority to recall any
public representative.”

The secretary-general
stated that the party was resolute that recently elected ANC president Cyril
Ramaphosa will take over from Zuma and be the one to deliver the state of the
nation address (Sona).

The Sona was postponed
from February 8 – Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete, said at the time the
decision to push back the Sona was based on fears of disruptions. However, the
postponement was in no doubt influenced by ANC internal power struggles, with
the NEC calling for Zuma to step down as the country’s president.

Several meetings have
been held by the ANC’s NEC and NWC for over a week to discuss Zuma’s
resignation following his repeated refusal to do so on request from these party
structures.

On Monday, the NEC
convened a special meeting at the Saint Goerge Hotel in Pretoria to discuss
Zuma’s future.

ANC secretary-general
Ace Magashule said the decision to recall Zuma was taken “only after exhaustive
discussion on the impact such a recall would have on the country, the ANC and the
functioning of government.”

He further said the
resolution had not been taken because Zuma had done any wrong but because the
organisation is of the view that state and party leadership should be aligned.

On Monday, opposition
parties called on Mbete to reschedule the motion of no confidence in Zuma a
week ahead from the initially planned February 22.

However, yesterday
Magashule said some of the issues the NEC had to consider during its meeting
regarding Zuma’s resignation were “the opportunistic manoeuvers by the
opposition in parliament including motions of no confidence in the President,
calls for dissolution for parliament and other desperate acts.”

He said the decision
about who would deputise Ramaphosa now that Zuma has resigned rests with the
party’s president and its NEC.

Jacob Zuma announces his resignation as South Africa's president
Reviewed by peace duke
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February 14, 2018
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